Praedicator

Verba

Thursday, February 26, 2015 - 1st Week of Lent - Thurs

"If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give ggood things to those who ask him." [Matthew]

Many forests have given their existence to writings about prayer in Christian tradition! The subject has been analyzed up one side and down the other. I can only add my drop to the ocean and hope it will help! When people ask me about prayer, I have to start with what they consider to be their relationship to God. That is what determines how they speak to God. Prayer is the expression of faith in God who is love. Sometimes there are words available, sometimes not. Queen Esther, in the first scripture for today is desperate and she manages to find words to express her situation and ask for help. Others may play music, write poetry, paint pictures or use words that others have written. I think it is important to understand that prayer is not simply a petition for a particular outcome. That makes God the possessor of something that we do not have and we can get frustrated when God doesn't give it to us. I am reminded of the story of the priest who prayed fervently that he could win the lottery so his church could build a new building. He prayed for years. Finally, one day a frustrated voice came to him and said, "Monsignor, give me a break. Buy a lottery ticket."

Prayer is ultimately the expression of our relationship to God. That will determine our expectations and feelings. Do we know what that relationship is? That will teach us a lot about ourselves and about God. It could be a Lenten exercise! AMEN